Obituary: Richard PhillipsRichard W. Phillips, 67, of Russellville departed this life Friday, May 15, 2015, and went to spend eternity with his Heavenly Father. He was born July 5, 1947, in DeWitt to Raymond and Tressie Curtright Phillips. Richard was a U.S Army veteran. He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother Raymond Phillips. Survivors include his wife of 28 years, Debra Isbell Phillips; three sons and daughters-in-law, Robert and Brittany Phillips of...

'King of the Blues' blues legend B.B. King dead at age 89LAS VEGAS (AP) — B.B. King, whose scorching guitar licks and heartfelt vocals made him the idol of generations of musicians and fans while earning him the nickname King of the Blues, died late Thursday at home in Las Vegas. He was 89. His attorney, Brent Bryson, told The Associated Press that King died peacefully in his sleep at 9:40 p.m. PDT. He said funeral arrangements were underway. Clark County Coroner John Fudenberg confirmed the death. ...

Obituary: Velma AllisonVelma Allison, 102, of Russellville, died Thursday, May 14, 2015 at Russellville Nursing and Rehab. The daughter of Claude and Sadie Cotton Allison, she was born May 2, 1913, in Una. She was a line worker with the International Shoe company for over 20 years. Velma was a member of the Women Missionary Council for many years in Russellville. She was a charter member of Cedar Grove Assembly of God and was a long-time member of Russellville First...

Obituary: James RachelATKINS — James Erwin Rachel, 93, of Russellville, went to be with his Lord and Savior on May 13, 2015, at the Arkansas Hospice River Valley Home in Russellville. He was born Dec. 5, 1921, to James Ira and Annice Witt Rachel in the Mill Creek community west of Russellville. After the death of his father, he joined the C.C.C. and served at the Shiloh Camp in Russellville and in Lake View, Iowa. He was drafted into the Army during World War II in...

Obituary: Janie HaleWAXAHACHIE, Texas — Janie P. Hale, 87 of Waxahachie, Texas passed away Tuesday, May 12, 2015 in Italy, Texas. She was born on Sept. 19, 1927, in Russellville to the late Hall and Ada Rogers Perkins. She was a graduate of Russellville High School in 1945. Janie moved to Texas in 1972 and went to work at the post office at SAGC, she continued her education and later graduated the Navarro Police Academy and went to work for the Ellis County Sherr...

Obituary: Kala ClaytonKala Dawn Clayton, 30, of Dover, died Tuesday, May 12, 2015, at Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center in Russellville. She was born Dec. 8, 1984, at Dover, and was preceded in death by her paternal grandfather, Frank Clayton, and her maternal grandfather, Carl Chisum. Survivors include her husband, David Bynum; her parents, Garry and Beverly Clayton of Knoxville; a son and a daughter, Garry Matthew Clayton and Emily Rose Clayton, both of Knoxvi...

Obituary: Loyon LangfordATKINS — Loyon Murel Langford, 88, of Hector, passed away Tuesday, May 12, 2015, at the Atkins Nursing and Care Center. He was born March 29, 1927, in Hector, son of the late Jess and Martha Freeman Langford. He was a farmer from the time he could reach the plow handles, and was an industrious young man who grew and sold tobacco for spending money before later running the Hector movie theater. He was a U.S. Army veteran, a member of the Americ...

Obituary: Ronald JacksonRonald Jackson Ronald James Jackson, 66, of Coal Hill, passed away May 9, 2015. He was an Army veteran and retired truck driver. Jackson is survived by his wife Janette Jackson; daughters, Meagan and Anthony Disney of Lowell, Candice and Raymond Harvey of Van Buren; son Dustin and Shayne Estep of Coal Hill; sister Ellen Womack of IL; nephews Ashley Willhite of North Little Rock, and Evan Willhite of IL; Six grandchildren, and loving friends. J...

Obituary: Joyce BrimerJoyce Beatrice Brimer, 82, of Russellville, died Sunday, May 10, 2015, at Baptist Medical Center in Little Rock. The daughter of Bennie and Marie Johnson Hodges, she was born Nov. 4, 1932, in Walker. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert L. Brimer; her parents; and daughter, Shelia K. Brimer. Survivors include her daughter, Sharon Brimer of Russellville; her brother, Morris Hodges of Dardanelle; three sisters, Jane C. Erwin of North...

Obituary: Nancy WoodDARDANELLE — Nancy Ann Wood, of Russellville, passed away May 4, 2015. Nancy was born March 17, 1956, in Russellville. Nancy is survived by her mother Beulah Faye Greathouse Pack. Nancy was a retired school teacher at both Pope and Searcy County school districts. Nancy enjoyed music, arts and spending time with her beloved Dotson dog, Lucy. Nancy was preceded in death by her father, Hurley Bernard Pack; brother, David Hurley Pack; first husban...

Obituary: Larry HayLarry E. Hay, 63, of Pottsville, died Friday, May 8, 2015 at John L. McClellan VA Hospital in Little Rock. He was born in Sacramento, Calif., to Ben and Nell Howard of Pottsville. He was a veteran of the USMC. He enjoyed the outdoors, riding 4-wheelers, grilling, and most of all; he loved his family and especially his grandchildren dearly. He is preceded in death by his parents, and a brother, Richard Hay. Survivors include his wife, Beverly H...

Obituary: Regina FrostDANVILLE — Regina Gale Frost, age 56 of Havana, passed away Monday, May 11, 2015, at Chambers Memorial Hospital. She was born May 20, 1958, in Stuttgart to Clarence Earl and Geneva Louise Folson Hansell. She was a homemaker. She was preceded in death by her father. Survivors include her husband of 33 years, Joey Myers; mother and stepfather, Louise and Billy Breland; children, Michael Myers of Springdale; Jason Allen Myers of Fayetteville; Sta...

Obituary: Anna AilstockAnna Mae Ailstock, 76, formerly of Clarksville, was born May 1, 1939, and died May 4, 2015 in Hendersonville, NC. She preceded in death by her parents: Luke and Nancy Lamb, husband: John W. Ailstock; one brother and one sister. She is survived by four sons: Eddie Ailstock (Debbie) of Las Vegas, Nevada; Tim Ailstock (Kathy), of Hendersonville, North Carolina; Michael Ailstock (Heather) of Spartanburg, South Carolina; Bruce Ailstock (Darlene) of...

Obituary: Grace LewallenGrace Lewallen, 89, of Nelsonville died Wednesday, May 6, 2015, at Batesville. Survivors include one son, Phillip Lewallen and wife Stephanie of Nelsonville; four grandchildren, Rachel Lewallen, Caleb Lewallen, Deborah Lewallen and John Lewallen, all of Nelsonville; several nieces and nephews and a host of other relatives and friends. Funeral services were held May 9, 2015, at the Qualls Funeral Home Chapel in Cave City with Bro. Boyce Johnson...

Obituary: Virgil "Tick" SpearsVirgil “Tick” Spears, 85, of Dover, went home to be with the Lord Saturday, May 9, 2015. The son of Virgil and Ruth (Ward) Spears, he was born June 17, 1929 in Greenbrier. He attended Arkansas Polytechnic College. He married Betty Breeding, on March 12, 1949 at Conway. He was a United States Air Force veteran of the Korean War who served one tour in Japan. He was a former deacon and member of West Side Church of Christ in Russellville, where h...

Obituary: Doris HoustonDoris Virginia Houston, 75, was born Oct. 25, 1939, to her parents in Los Angeles, Calif., and died May 8, 2015, in Van Buren, Ar.. She was a nurse, cake decorator, licensed school bus Driver, and a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She is preceded in death by her parents, Clifford and Virginia Carey Hunt; daughter, Ginny Malik; and sister, Dorothy Hunt. She is survived by her son, Marty Houston and wife, Paula, of Scr...

Obituary: Janet SorrelsJanet Sorrels, 67, of Atkins, passed away Monday, May 11, 2015, at the River Valley Medical Center in Dardanelle. She was born July 21, 1947, in Atkins, daughter of the late William Arlie and Cathryn Ehemann Sorrels. She was preceded in death by her parents and a son, William Thomas Fowler. She is survived by a son, Robert Fowler and wife Christina; daughter, Stephanie and husband Jack Chesser; brother, Robert Wayne Sorrels and wife Julia of H...

Obituary: Ethan Eldon BeasonEthan Eldon Beason, who resided in Russellville went home to be with his heavenly Father and family members who preceded him Saturday, May 9, 2015. The youngest of eight children, Ethan was born Sept. 20, 1931 in Branch, Ark., to the late Walter and Beulah (Francis) Beason. He was 83 years old. He was also preceded in death by his three sisters, Nina Swain, Veda Flynn and Iva Matthews and two brothers, Leon and Solan Beason. He married the lov...

Obituary: Johnny GimbleDRIPPING SPRINGS, Texas — Renowned fiddler Johnny Gimble, whose career included a stint as a Texas Playboy with the legendary Western swing musician Bob Wills and then gained fame for his backup work with country stars from Merle Haggard to Carrie Underwood, has died. He was 89. His daughter, Cyndy, said Gimble died Saturday morning near his home in Dripping Springs, near Austin, “finally rid of the complications from several strokes over the ...